Dressing appropriately for dinner is common sense in Europe and the United States, to go to a high-grade restaurant, men should wear a neat shirt and shoes, women should wear suits and high heels, if the specified formal dress, men also need to wear a tie.
Second, the way to take a seat
The most decent way to take a seat is from the left side. When the chair is pulled out, the body is almost touching the table in the distance to stand straight, the usher will push the chair, the bend of the leg touches the back of the chair, you can sit down. When dining, the upper arms and back should rest against the back of the chair, and the abdomen should be kept about a fist's distance from the table. Sitting with your feet crossed is best avoided.
The order in which a full set of Western food is served is: appetizer, soup, side dish, main course, salad, dessert, coffee and tea. You don't have to order all of them, and it's rude to order too much and not be able to finish it. Generally appetizers, entrees and desserts are more appropriate choices, ordering is not from the appetizer to start pointing, but first choose the same would like to eat the main course, and then with the appropriate appetizer and soup.
Three, before dinner
Western food is not like Chinese food, everyone is a separate plate of food, from the beginning of the salad to the last dessert, and not free to take food, but by the waiter round by round to give you on the food, the English said food for the "course", the main course as the "main course". The food is called "course" in English, and the main course is "main course". When you start eating, you must wait until everyone has their food in front of them, or if you are invited to eat at home, wait for the host to eat first. In order to show courtesy, it is best that all people can synchronize their meals, so that everyone eats the salad together, and then the waiter collects it after eating, and then eats the main course together, like this, which will be described in detail next~
Basic Dining Etiquette (The "Do Nots")
Don't pack a bag. Try not to eat with your hands. Don't smoke or drink alcohol (this type of Western food is not a business social occasion, so alcohol will not be involved). Don't chew your food while talking. (It's so indecent) Don't open your mouth while chewing your food. Don't start adding condiments without tasting the food. Try not to leave the table unless it's an emergency. Don't pick your teeth in public ****. Don't reach for items and have them handed to you. Don't grab a tall glass in your hand and pinch its stem with your thumb, index and middle fingers. Try not to pick at your food.When interacting with the waiter
In many cases, the diner's left hand side belongs to the direction of serving, while the right hand side belongs to the direction of removing the plate that has been served. However, this also depends on the amount of space to the right and left of the diner. Drinks should always be served from the diner's right hand side. If you need anything, let the waiter know. When you're done eating, place your knife and fork horizontally and parallel on top of your plate. Or cross them and place the handles on the right side. If you don't want a drink (like coffee), say "No, thank you". When passing food, pass it counterclockwise. But if the person on your left wants something, just hand it to them without going through the hassle of passing it around. The honored guest (to the right of the host) is the first to be served, followed by the host, and finally the rest of you. Remember to thank your server.Fourth, the use of utensils
First point, the host's placement is right! Don't comment too much, even if you do make a mistake, just use the utensils wisely according to the host's placement.Fork
Positioned on the left side of the plate.
Salad fork: more chunky.
Forks are placed downwards when left unattended on the plate.
Spoon
Positioned on the right side of the dinner plate, outside the knife.
The spoon comes up with the soup most of the time, and it is positioned above the soup plate and below the soup bowl.
Similarly, the coffee spoon comes up with the coffee, and the dessert spoon comes up with the dessert at the same time.
Knife
Placed on the right side of the dinner plate in the order of use.
The knife faces inward.
The knife that cuts the steak is closer to the plate than the buttered knife.
Glasses
Tall glasses should be placed further in from the table, with water glasses to the right of the plate.
Coffee cups are placed to the right of other utensils, in line with the center of the dinner plate***.
Other
The plate for butter and the knife are placed at the upper left.
Desserts are placed on top of the dinner plate, i.e., near the center of the table, and may be set before the meal, or brought up at dessert time.
If an unfortunate accident occurs
If silverware is dropped on the floor, notify the server promptly.
If food is spilled, pick it up with cutlery and place it in the corner of the plate.
Fifth, the use of various things
Red wine glass: drink should hold the foot of the glass, rather than the body, to avoid hand temperature to destroy the flavor of wine;
Water cup: drink drinks before the best first wipe mouth, so as not to leave oil stains on the cup;
Napkin: large napkin can be folded into a triangle on the knee, wipe the mouth, it is appropriate to use the napkin corner position; leave the seat, the napkin can be folded and placed on a chair, the napkin can be folded into a triangle, and then put in a chair. When you leave your seat, you can fold the napkin and put it on the chair or table; after the meal, you should fold the napkin and put it on the right side of the plate;
Spoon: Avoid making noise when drinking soup. After drinking soup, the spoon should not be placed in the bowl, but should be picked up and placed on the soup plate.
Meat: Cut steak from the outside in and eat one piece at a time, please do not cut it into pieces at a time for the sake of convenience; cut the pieces of meat in the right size, do not cut them so large that there is a danger of not being able to close your mouth. When chewing food, please be sure to keep your mouth closed to avoid making noise, and do not bring food back into your mouth until it has been swallowed.
Fruit: Watery fruits should be taken with a small spoon. Peaches and melons, which are peeled and sliced in restaurants, should be eaten with a small fork. Strawberries, on the other hand, are often placed on small plates and can be eaten with a spoon or fork. In addition, when eating fruits, restaurants usually provide a hand-washing box with flower petals or lemons in it. The desserts are usually served on a small plate, with a spoon or fork.
Desserts: Cakes and pastries are usually eaten with a small fork; harder ones are cut with a knife and eaten with a small fork; ice cream and pudding can be eaten with a small spoon. If you come across small pieces of hard cookies, you can take them directly.
Soup: When drinking soup, use a spoon, not the whole bowl. When drinking soup with a spoon, the spoon should be used to scoop it out from your own side, and you should not stir the hot soup or blow on it with your mouth. It is polite to avoid making noise when drinking soup. When the soup is almost finished, hold the plate with your left thumb and forefinger and tilt it outward to retrieve the soup. After finishing the soup, the spoon should be placed on the saucer of the soup plate or cup.
Coffee and Tea: When drinking coffee or tea, the restaurant will always include a small spoon, which is used to stir the sugar and creamer, so try not to stir your drink with the spoon from the sugar and creamer cans, or use the spoon to pick up the coffee to taste the sweetness, or you are guaranteed to get the attention of the entire table. When drinking coffee or tea, you should hold the cup by the handle with your forefinger and thumb, so you don't have to hold the saucer. When you're done, place a small spoon on the saucer.